I'm into chocolate and bourbon. Other things too. Like scotch. And my kid, did I mention that? But aren't you really just looking at the pictures? Or maybe not because I just told you I'm a mom! Go ahead, I'm doing the same, looking only at pics and then making freewheeling judgements that I would never do in person. It's what we do on here. If you want, you can learn about the other stuff later. It's quirky and hard to remember anyway.

What I’m doing with my life

I'm an overeducated helper. I like people and I like the environment. Those 2 things frequently clash and so I apply myself to finding the middle ground. Except I still haven't found the eightfold path: don't use paper towels...but I then I had a kid. Go figure.

I’m really good at

-Yoga-Endurance. When I ran (emphasis on when, now I just bike), I used to get off on running when it was so cold my eyes would run and then the tears would freeze on my face. What's up with THAT weird self masochism? I blame it on growing up in New England, land of the Puritans.-Being there when you need me-Avoiding phone messages/never picking up my phone (which is constantly butting heads with the above, but isn't life all about negotiating conflict? And I do know how annoying and inconsiderate it is. It's on my long list for self improvement.)-Mixing random things together and calling it lunch. and sometimes dinner.-Doing things the hard way. Multiple career re-starts? Check. Knocking myself up and having a kid on my own? Check. Taking enormous paycuts for idealism? Also check. Tendency to exhaustively research every option before buying the first thing I looked at? Check.-Reading quickly and making molehill writing into mountains.

The first things people usually notice about me

I have long hair. But I might cut it, so that might not be what you first notice about me after all. My legs remain fabulous. You only get to see them if I like you, though. I can't seem to get rid of the ridiculous tan lines from this summer though. It's like I branded myself!

But I'm usually the one in the corner, talking animately with one other person, looking like the last thing I want to do is meet someone new. Which might be true. But I never know what's good for me.

Favorite books, movies, shows, music, and food

These lists are just not coming to me and so you'll just have to have an honest to goodness IN PERSON interaction to gauge if I am interesting enough for you...

But let me assure you. I am.

The six things I could never do without

Hair ties, garlic, lip stuff and a GPS device. All other things are secondary. Yes, I can count. That's only 4.

(And OF COURSE all the schmaltzy responses of my kid, family, friends, air, nature, if I had a dog, dog, public libraries and the Supreme Court, etc. And I don't mean to pick fun. I like schmaltz, just not in its literal version. My gma did, though.)

I spend a lot of time thinking about

Be careful if you try to follow my thoughts. Especially if you are looking for linear logic. You will just get dizzy and need to sit down. In fact, it reminds me of the kiswahili word for foreigner/white person, which is wazungo. As it was explained to me, it means "dizzy and confused person walking around in circles." In my case, that is frequently both internally and externally accurate. I truly have an abysmal sense of direction.

On a typical Friday night I am

Having a spontaneous dinner with friends.Have a planned dinner with friends.Avoiding the really annoying overcrowded bars. I like Tuesdays and Sunday nights.On my way somewhere for the weekend.Somewhere for the weekend, having dinner with friends.

The most private thing I’m willing to admit

I started eating meat and sometimes do not ALWAYS follow my dictates, which I call the "Happy Meat Rules." I have even gone ALL THE WAY and eaten the dastardly pig meat (like, not just bacon, which you can toss away because EVERYONE tries bacon at some point, but a whole fricking pork chop), which has my grandparents doing triple luxes in their graves...sigh. Clearly, I still suffer from guilt.

You should message me if

I don't know. Just do it. But I am incredibly judgmental and probably won't get back to you.

Just kidding.

What's the worst that could happen? Perhaps we already went out and you forgot? Then you could feel sheepish in private until you remember that I totally blew you off (sorry) and get really pissed and write me a nasty email, which would then increase the sheep. You'd have a barnyard and would have to take up husbandry, and before you know it, you're moving out to a flat state to raise alpacas to sell to rich people. What can I say? You had it coming. At least now you have a life purpose.